Does your Dane have beavioural problems?
You're not alone! The Great Dane is a Giant dog and behaviour problems are greatly amplified due to the sheer size of this animal.
The most important thing you can do is seek help before things get out of control. If things are already out of control we recommend you set up a session with a professional. Yes, this appointment will cost you between $100-$500 (depending on level of service for instance a $500 session may come with lifetime support) however it may be the very thing you need to get things back on track and give your confidence back.
There are alot of Cowboys out there claiming to be Trainers and Behaviourists, to assist you, we have compiled a list of Behaviourists that we recommend. Click here.
What is the difference between a Trainer & a Behaviourist?
A Trainer can teach you how to train your dog to do obedience type commands.
A Behaviourist understands why dogs do what they do, they can assesses your dogs behaviour, your relationship with your dog and helps you with a behaviour modification plan on how to address behaviour issues, they also are typically quite well versed on Obedience training as well.
Book Reccomendations
If you enjoy a good book, there are some great books to help you work through your dogs behavioural woes, however, if your dog is already out of control or acting in an aggressive manner you need to be calling in a Behaviourist to help you.
Oh Behave! Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker
Jean Donaldson
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Jean Donaldson brings her considerable wisdom - and wit - to a wide variety of topics of interest to dog trainers and enthusiasts in the latest book from Dogwise Publishing. In 55 essays, Jean tackles issues ranging from the nature vs nurture debate, to the role of dominance in domestic dogs, to what are the most effective ways to train dogs. Along with her other best selling books, Oh Behave! is destined to be a classic in the literature on dog behavior.
The Culture Clash
Jean Donaldson
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The Culture Clash is special. Written in Jean's inimitably informal yet precise lecture style, the book races along on par with a good thriller. *The Culture Clash depicts dogs as they really are - stripped of their Hollywood fluff, with their loveable 'can I eat it, chew it, urinate on it, what's in it for me' philosophy. Jean's tremendous affection for dogs shines through at all times, as does her keen insight into the dog's mind. Relentlessly she champions the dog's point of view, always showing concern for their education and well being. Without a doubt, Jean's book is the hottest doggy item on the market. Best Training Book Of The Year! (Maxwell Award)
Mine! A Practical Guide To Resource Guarding in Dogs
Jean Donaldson
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A practical how-to guide on resource guarding - food bowl, object, bed, crate, owner, etc. - in dogs. Contents include: aggression basics, nature of resource guarding, kinds of resource guarding, behaviorist vs. medical models, recognising guarding, prognosis, safety tools, treatment overview, management, desensitization and counterconditioning, resource sample hierarchies, generalization, troubleshooting, body handling desensitization, operant conditioning.
Play With Your dog
Pat Miller
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Pat Miller explores the role and benefits of play between you and your dog - and between dogs. Play behaviors have important learning and health benefits that help dogs become well-adjusted members of both their canine and human families. Through play your dog learns dog-to-dog social graces and is mentally and physically stimulated. Play can be a great training tool, helping to build the relationship between you and your dog. And while play comes naturally to most dogs, there are many who need to be encouraged to discover their "inner puppy." Pat includes dozens of game ideas collected from trainers all over the country you can try out with your dog(s).
Chill Out Fido
Nan Kene Arthur
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Does your dog go bonkers when the doorbell rings or when you grab the leash to take him for a walk? If you find your dog is often difficult to control, you are not alone! The inability to get their dogs to relax and calm down is one of the most common behavioral problems that dog owners face. This two part book will help you first identify the factors that cause this kind of behavior in dogs and then provides you with eleven key training exercises you can use to help your dog chill out in everyday situations where so many dogs get wild and crazy! First you will learn there are a large number of factors that can all play a part in a dog displaying unruly or unfocused behaviors, and in some cases high levels of stress. Each of the exercises are designed to teach your dog how to calm down, pay attention to you, relax, and respond with a new set of skills to every day situations with confidence and composure. You will improve the relationship and achieve the ideal dog you always wanted.
How to be the Leader of the Pack
Patricia McConnell
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Learn how to love your dogs without spoiling them and provide boundaries without intimidation. This booklet clarifies how to be a benevolent leader and avoid aggression related to fear or dominance. If you want to be a natural leader to your pack, this book tells you how to do it in a peaceful, kind way. The ideas and exercises in this booklet are based on the way dogs communicate with each other, so they are highly effective and easy for your dog to understand. An essential part of any canine library! Would make an excellent hand-out in classes, for vet offices, or humane societies!
The Cautious Canine
Patricia McConnell
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So many behavioral problems in dogs result from fear, but fear-based problems can become worse if treated incorrectly. This booklet provides a step-by-step dog training program of desensitizing and counter classical conditioning. It can help you solve minor dog problems and prevent serious ones, whether your dog's fears include the vacuum cleaner, people with hats, or the stranger at the door. Covered are the oh-so-important details related to identifying exactly what triggers your dog, creating a step-by-step treatment plan, monitoring your progress, and why you need to treat the fear and not just your dog's reaction to the fear.
Why does my dog do that? ***HIGHLY RECCOMENDED***
Robin Glover & Caroline Spencer
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The 'must have' book for every owner, whatever their experience, to communicate with and resolve all behavioural problems with their dogs in a stress free way. This book was written to fill a gap in the market. As PURE Dog Listeners, the authors aim is to help dog owners resolve behaviour issues with their dogs. These problems are many and varied and include, aggression of all kinds, excessive barking, guarding food, fouling, house training, pulling on the lead, failing to recall, all fear issues, obsessive behaviour, mounting visitors. Whatever the behaviour that the dog owner is faced with, they will find the answer in this book. The reader will find it, user friendly, written with humour but drawing on decades of practical experience including, police and other working dogs, rescue dogs and their special needs as well as the traditional family pet. It can be read from cover to cover or browsed. It is easy to navigate to your area of concern allowing you to start to 'mend your dog'; this book will give you an in depth understanding of how dogs think. By understanding the culture of the dog and their language, you will learn to understand why your dog behaves the way it does. Once you understand that, then you will be able to communicate with your dog without using, force, cruel gadgets, shouting, hitting, or any other aversive techniques. You will be able to change any undesirable behaviour, in a stress free way and build on the good behaviour. The dog will change their behaviour of its own free will because they will have been shown that they can trust their owner to make all the right decisions. Love, Language and Leadership. Learn how to use these and problems disappear. The method in this book works for all dogs, whatever age, whatever breed. If you follow the advice in its entirety you will see the light come on in your dogs' eyes. You and your dog will relax and enjoy your relationship with one another.